Trench-wall-supporting machine



S. B. GARDNER.

TRENCH WALL SUPPORTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED IuNE I4; 1920.

1,391,624. PatentedSept. 20,1921.l

5 SHEETS-SHEET I.

S. B. GARDNER.

TRENCH WALL SUPPORTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE I4, 1920- PatentedSept. 20, 1921. l 5 SHEETS--SHEET 2.

rdnen S. B. GARDNER.

TRENCH WALL SUPPORTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 14, 1920.

PatentedSept. 20, 1921.

l n er.:

S. B. GARDNER.

TRENCH WALL SUPPORTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE I4, i920.

Patented Sept. 20, 1921.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4- S. B. GARDNER.

TRENCH WALL SUPPORTING MACHIN.

APPLICATION FILED IuNE 141920.

1,391,624. l PatentedSept. 20, 1921.

5 SHEETS-SHEET s.

. R9/f y I I I J. mrd/w1.'

UNiTED STATES SYDNEY BRT GARDNER,

PATENT OFFICE.

0F BENSON, MINNESOTA.

TBiENCH-WALIi-SUPPORTING MACHINE.

' Application filedl .T une 14,

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, SYDNEY BURT GARD- NER, a citizen of the United States, residing atBenson, in the county of Swift, State of Minnesota, have invented 4certain new and useful 'Im rovements in Trench-Wall-*Supporting achines; and I do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention rel `tes to machines or devices for supporting the walls of trenches, such as required in sewer and drainagel construction and in various other lines of work where it is required that the workmen operate in relatively narrow excavations. l Y

An object of this invention is to provide a machine of this type which will take the place ofthe ordinary jack screws, braces, and other devices now. commonly used for supporting the walls of the trenches against cavingin, and which may be quickly and easily operated forlsupporting sheet piling or the like against the opposite walls of the trench forsupporting those walls, particularly where the earth is of a sandy or other non-adhesive quality. usually diicult to maintain from falling.

The invention has for another object to provide a machine which may `be stepped lengthwise of the trench and also in a vertical direction so that it may be made to follow the line of work, and it maybe quickly and easily operated for feeding the machine, either horizontally or vertically, for supporting pilingor the like against the opposite walls of the trench at such points where it is required the work be carried on.

A further object of the invention vis to yprovide a machine which may be operated by use of a relatively small amount of-piling and which, when progressed inone direction, will release the rearmost piling and permit the positioning of the same in the front of the machine to thus use the same small amount of piling in the consecutive feeding or advancement of the' machine.-

The invention also has various other objects and advantages Awhich will be in part understood from and in part specifically brought out in the following specification and illustrated inthe accompanyingdrawings, in which: 'i

F-igurel 1s an end elevation of a trench i Specification of Letters Patent.Y V'Pateinted Sept 20, 1921 1920. seriali No; 389,042,v

wall. supporting machine constructed according to this invention and as arranged in a trench, the latter 'shown in cross section, and against piling for of the trench. v

Fig. 2 is a similar view showingY the machine'adjusted in position for advancement eitherk vertically or horizontallyr in the trench;

Fig 3 is a side'- elevation of the machine showing one section thereof advancedhorizontally.

Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the sections of the machine brought together in position either before or after advancement ina horizontal direction. y

' Figk is an endview of the machine in the positionl shown in Fig. 4:.

Fig. 6 isa horizontal sectionvtaken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5, and showing the sections in collapsed position.

Fig. 7 lisa top plan view of the machine in ,the same position.

Fig. 8 is a detail enlarged sectional view showing a slightly modified form `ofadjustsupporting the sides able connection between one ofthe operating shafts and one of the advancing sections.

Fig. 9 is atransverse section taken vthrough thefsame substantially on the line 9 9 of Fig. 8;,and

' Fig. l0 is a verse bars yfor engagement with the wall of the trench. 4. p

Referring to the drawings, wherein like parts are designate'd'by similar numerals of-` reference lthroughout the several views. 15 designates a trench or excavation in which amachine'of this invention is adapted `to be used. The sidewalls of the trench 15 may be lined with piling v16 in the usual manner, and the piling is supported by the laterally eXtensible transverse members of the machine fgor holding the wallsA vof the trench fromcaving in or falling, vor the sheet-pil# detail perspective view show- 5 ing a slight modification of one of the trans-- ing may befomitted, and the sides of the i walls of the trench will be supported by the of a frame having end members which are d8. Eachsection 17 and 18 is in the formv joined, in each frame, by side pieces 19, and the latter may be constructed of angle iron for 'the purpose of lightness and rigidity. The Vend pieces of each frame comprise a pair of uprights 2O joined atV their upper and lower portions by cross pieces 21 which rigidly hold the uprights in substantially parallelism andwhich brace and hold rigidV each frame. The frames 17 and 18 are intertting, or, as shown, the frame 18 hasone end piecefdisposed between the end pieces of the frame 17 and is 'adapted to slide in the frame 17 within Vthe limits of the operatinef mechanism,"as will hereinafter appear.

eans is provided formoving one of the frames or sections relatively to the other, the means being divided into a mechanism for relatively advancing the frames horizontally andV another mechanism is provided' for relatively advancing the frames f in a vertical direction.

. as the section 18, is provided a bearing 22v On the end of one of the sections, such in which is journaled a transversely extending crankV shaft 23 having cranks 24 thereon which are disposed on opposite ends of the shaft 23 and extend in the same direction. These'cranks` 24 are connected by rods 25 to the adjacent end of the other section 17, sothat upon rotation of the shaft 23 the sections 17 and 18 are moved relatively toward each other. The shaft 23 is provided Y d intermediate its ends with a worm pinion 25 lwhich meshes with a worm 27 on a shaft .28 vprojecting endwise from the frame 18 and journaled therein. The shaft 28 carries a sprocket wheel 29 over which is trained a I sprocket chain 30 extendingupwardly. and

over a second sprocket wheel 31 mounted on a drive shaft 32 whichVV may be driven by power or otherwise, the hand crank 33 being disclosed for thevpur-pose of illustration.

The said vsection 18 carries a gear hous- V .i ing or support 34 through which the drive shaft 32 extends, and the sprocket wheel 31 is loose on the drive'shaft and Ais adapted to Y be coupled thereto when desired by a clutch element v3,5 shiftable on the shaftA 32. VThe clutch 35 is shiftable by a hand lever 36 whichpreferably projects from the end of the.. gear casing 34 and within easy access of the operator. y y 'Y Y VVThe horizontal advancingmeans just described. is set in operation by Vshifting the clutch 35 outwardly from the adjacent end ofthe section 18, and when the clutch ele- -ment' 35 is shifted'inwardly it couplesjthe drive shaft 32 with a sprocket wheel 37 normally loose on the drive shaft,'and which engages a sprocket.. chain 38 which is carried Vupon an upper sprocket wheel 39 mounted on a stub shaft 40 carried upon the upper end of the section 18 and which projects longitudinally from the adjacent end of the section.

Vmounted on a second stub shaft 46.

The chain '38 also passes over a sprocket Y wheel 41 mounted on a shaft 42 which is journaled preferably .at the side of the section 18, and which extends throughout, substantially the entire length'Y of the section. The other end of the shaft 42 is provided with a sprocket wheel 43 carrying a vchain 44 whichextends upwardly in the section 18 `and passes over a 'sprocket wheel 45 The stub shafts 4() and 46 are arranged in pairs at opposite ends ofthe section 18 and are each provided with their respective sprocket wheels 39 and 45, the chains 38 and 44 passing over the pairs of sprocket Vwheelsfor causing vthe Simultaneous turningof the stubshafts.

Each stub shaft is .provided with a worm Y 47 which meshes with. a wormpinion'48 Y fixed upon the upper end ofY anv adjacent shaft 49, the shafts 49., extending vertically in pairs in eachend of the Vsection 18 and adapted to be simultaneously turned." The section 18 is provided on opposite sides and v The bars 50 are adapted to be slidlongitudinally by operation of the vertical shafts r49, and any suitable coupling meansV may be employed for transferring the rotation of the vshafts 49 to a. reciprocating movement of the rods 51. In the present instancethe vertical shafts 49 are provided with crank portions 52 in line with the rods 51, andthe rods are secured attheir inner ends to the crank portions. The rods51 are also provided with turnbuckles 53 or the like, permitting the expansion and contraction of therrods in the lengthwise direction for adjusting the presser bars 50 to trenchesvof varying widths.

InFigs. 8 and 9; of the drawing,the 'connection and adjustment of the rods-is shown in a slightly modified form. In this instance the presser bars at the sides ofthe machine are provided with threaded spindles or rod, portions 54 which engage in threaded relation in thimbles 55, and the? latter have bearing forlongitudinal sliding movement in a bracket 56 which is .mounted upontheinner section, kbeing the same as 20, thus forming a boxing or bearing for Y shaft 49. That is the bracket should be attached tothe main frame, soV as to make a rigid bearing for .the shaft 49, thus the thrust of the walls on the arms will be carried to the bracket, which will be overcome by the thrust from the vopposite bracket. The inner ends of the thimbles 55 are .arranged with bearing plates 57 adapted to receive a roller 58 thereagainst, and the roller is mounted in eccentric positionbetween a pair of disks 59 which are keyed or otherwise fixed to the shaft 49.*at opposite sides of the thimble 55.

The bracket 56 is preferably made in two parts which are bolted or otherwise suitably secured together, as shown at 60 in Fig. 8. TurningV of the'thimble 55 forces the rod section or spindle 54 outwardly and Ythus lengthens the connecting rod betweenV the presser bar and the operating shaft. The thimble 55 may be provided with a hexagon surface midway of the opening`61 in bracket 56, thus making a suitable surface for ap! plying a wrench for turning the thimble 55.

In F ig. 10 there is shown a slightly modified form of the presser bar carried at the side of the machine. In this instance the presser bar is formed of a filler 63 of wood reinforced at opposite edges by vangle irons 64 extending throughout the length ofthe presserbar and provided at its inner side with attaching plates 65 lsuitably apertured for the reception ofthe outer ends of the threaded rod sections 54. The presser bar is thus reinforced and the desired resiliency 2D of the wood ller'63. The drive shaft 32 which is carried on the section 18 constitutes the main operating shaft ofthe machine and while, Yas above described, it maybe caused to not only effect the relative movements of the two secand lightness in weight are obtained by usek tions 17 and 18, and also the vexpansion of the presser bars carried at the'opposite sides of the section 18, it may also be operated for expanding the presser bars which are. carried upon the section 17. Y This latter operation is carried out by the following construction. The section 17 is provided, preferably near its upper end and along one side, with a shaft 66 having a featheredend 67 slidable through a sprocket wheel 68 which is retained-between the said endof the section 18 and anzangle bracket 69 onsaid yend for holding the sprocket'wheel 87. in linewith a chain 70 which passesv over a sprocket wheel 71 freely mounted on the drive shaft 32. A second clutch element 72 isoperable upon the shaft 32 for interlockingthe sprocket wheel 71 thereto.

The clutch element 72 is` operable by a lever 73' which projects from the adjacent end of the section 18 so that the operator may control the turning of the shaft 66 which is carried on the other section 17, irrespective `65 of the relative adjustmentl of thesection 17 with respect to the section 18. The section 17 is provided with stub shafts 74 which extend in preferably a direction opposite to that in which the stub shafts 4() and 46 extend to permit the end pieces of the sections coming into close proximity when they are collapsed or drawn together.

The stub shafts 74 are connected by worms 75 in the same manner above described in connection Vwith the section 18 with the vertical shafts 49. The shafts 49 of the section 17 operate presser bars 76 carried at thel opposite sides of the section 18 andconnected to the ordinary shafts in the same manner as' above described. The stub shafts 74 carry sprocket-wheels 77 over which pass chains 7 8 operated by sprocket wheels 79 mounted on the shaft 66 in line with the chains 7 8.V or the purpose of advancing the sections relatively and vertically` one of the sections, such as the section 18, is provided on each end with a pair of transversely spaced apart standards 80 supporting a transverse shaft 81 at each end of the section 18, andthe shaft 81' has on each end thereof a crank portion 82 to which is pivoted a connecting rod 83. rThe connecting rod 83 may be in one or more sections and extends downwardly in the adjacent upright 2O and is secured at its lower end to a bearing block 84 slidable vertically in theadjacent upright 20. There is thus provided a pair of bearing blocks 84 at each end of the section 18. Thesebearing blocks are provided with rollers or other anti-friction devices for receivinghorizontall rails 85 or the like, which project horizontally yfrom the ends of thesection- 17 for holding the section 17 vertically rigid with respectto'the slidable blocks 84,` and for causing relatively vertical movement between the sections 17 and 18 when the blocks 84 are raised or loweredin their uprights 20.

The section 18 carries a platform 89 im* mediately beneath the mechanism surrounding the drive shaft 32, so 'that the opera-tor may be conveniently placed withrcspect to the clutches and other mechanism for controlling the movement'and operation `of the machine. j

vIn the use of this machine, the same may be placed in a trench and the expansion and contraction devices 51 manipulated so as to arrangetthe side rails 50 and 76 to clear the .walls of the trench vsufficiently for admitting the placing of piling against-the walls. The machine may beV advanced or stepped downwardly by manipulating the shafts v the trench and to support the machine fro'msaid rails. This is accomplished' by turning 130 f the operating shaft 32 after the clutch *35'* has been shifted to vopera-te the chain 38.

17 are expanded by operation of the vshaft 32 through the clutch 72. TheV side rails 50 of the frame 18 yare now contracted and the framef18 is again 'advanced downwardly.

Y Thisv operation is repeated until the machine reaches the desireddepth in the trench.

The workmen in the trench are adapted to work in the machine, and the machine is adapted to advance lwith the work-so as 'to To eifect this result follow the workmen.

the operating shaft 32 is turned through the Clutch 35 when shifted outwardly, to operate vthe chain 30 and thus" advance one of the frames or sections, such .as the section 17,

into an expanded position, as shown in'V Fig.

3. When in this position, the side rails 76 of the frame 17 are expanded to hold the section `rigidly in the trench and Vsupport the piling `and walls-of the trench. The rails 50 of thesection 18 are now contractedV andv further operation of the advancing means through the chain 30 causes the section 18to follow the section 17 and thus advance the remaining portion of the machine. Thisstep vby step advancement of the machine causes it to feed or move forwardly, and the direction of movement of the machine is, of course, regulated by the binding of theside rails 50 and 76 of the respective sections, so that` while one section is anchored the other section.

rIfhe vexpanding and contracting of the rails 5() and 76, as well as the horizontal advancement of the machine, is controlled from the single operating shaft 32 and its clutches 35 and 72. But one operator, therefore, need be employed, who may be located on the platform 89 with the'crank handle32 and the clutch handles 3G and 73 within easy reach.V v i When sheet piling is used itis only necessary to use piling throughout the length of the machine becauseas the machine `is .advancedhoriz'ontally the piling may bevremoved from the trench 'walls at the rear end is drawn up to the anchored Y of the machine and placed in front of the machine. The use of the machine eliminates the runners or horizontal-braces and the trench or jack screws usually employed,

f and allof vwhich consume considerable time gingl machine, .which digs onY a slant, the

arms'V should be extended out in vfront ofsec'a thespirit of my invention, and therefore I do not wish to be limited to such features v except as may berequired-by the 'claimsf V1. In a trenchwall-supporting machine, i

the. combination of al pair of relatively movable sections;l adapted .to-

placed ina trench,expanding means for thesections to individually bind .the s'amef inl the trench,

and means for effecting the relative movement of .the'section's to-advance the same :in the trench upon the: alternate'anchoring of Vthe sections in the trench by expansion.

2. In a trench wall,supporting'machinm a pair of interitting relatively s-l'idable sections, means for rel'ativelymoving the sections, and means for independently expanding thejsections for binding and anchoring engagement in the trench.

3. Inra-trench wall supportingl machine, the combination of a pairof interfitting relatively slidable sections, expanding rails carried uponv opposite sides' of each section,

means for independently expanding the rails of each section whereby the sections may be alternately anchored in. atreneh, and means for advancing one section when the other is anchored, f

4. In a trench wall supportingv machine, the combination of Va pairofslidable interfitting sections, means for moving said sections relatively in a vertical direction, means for moving said sections relatively in a hori- 'zontal direction, and means for independpanding theV sectionsjfor alternately bindingr the same against the walls ofthe trench, and means for relatively moving the sections to advance the machine in the trench.

6. In -a trench wall supporting machine, i

the combination of a pair of relativelyv slidable sections, meansfor Vindependently expanding the sections to [bind against theV walls 'of the trench` meansV for relatively` moving the sections ma ver-tical direction,

and other means for` relatively moving the sections in a horizontal direction` 7. In a trench wall supporting machine,

the combination of a pair of relatively slidable sections, means for individually bind.- ing the sections against-the walls of a trench to support said Walls and to anchor the sections, means for vertically shifting one section relatively to the other when said other section is anchored, and means for shifting one of said sections horizontally when fthe other section is anchored.` v

8.V In a'trench wall supporting machine,A

the combination of 'a pair of relatively slidable sections, longitudinally disposed rails arranged atroppositesides ofthe machine andfalternately secured to the sections, independent means for the sections connected to said rails for expandingthe rails of each section for binding engagement against the walls of a trench to independently anchor` binding the same against thev walls of the trench. l

10;:In a trench wall supporting machine, the combination of a pair of relatively movable sections, independent sets `of side rails, one set for each section, independent means for expanding the sets orails to individually anchor the sections against the side walls-of the trench, and operating means on one section connected to the rail expansion means of both sections for selectively actuating the same. Y

11. In a vtrench wall supporting machine, the combination of a pair of 'interfitting relatively slidable sections, a set of expanding rails carried upon each section, expanding means carried on each section connected to the rails for bindingthe same against the walls of a trench torsupport the walls and individually anchor the sections in the trench, means for relatively sliding the sections to advance the machine in the trench, and a common operating means mounted on one of the sections and selectively connected to the advancing means and to the expanding means of the sections.

12. In a trench wall supporting machine, the combination of a pair of relatively slidable sections, independent sets of alternately arranged rails carried Vat opposite sides of the sections, and independent expansion means on each section for the rails thereof to bind the rails against the walls of the trench, operating means mounted on one section, means for selectively connecting the operating means to the expansion means of both sections for expanding the rails thereof, and advancing means between the sections and connected t0 said operating means or relatively sliding the sections when one section is free.

13. In a trench wall supporting machine,

the combination of a pair of relatively slidac machine, expansion means on each section connected to the rails thereof` for binding the latter against the walls of the trench, and a common operating means on one section selectively connected t0 said advancing means and said expansion means of both ksections. n 'Il 14. Ifn a trench wall supporting machine, a pair of relatively slidable sections, independent sets ot rails, mounted on'the sec'- tions,expa.nding means on thesections connected t0 the rails for independently binding thel sets against the walls of the `trench to support the walls and independently anchor the sections, operating means on one section, selective connections between the operating means and said expansion means of both sections, sliifting means connecting the sections, a Selective connection between thevoperating meansand theshifting means, and means for vertically shifting the sections. f 15. In a trench wallfsupporting machine, the combination of a pair of relatively slidable sections, shifting means arranged between the sectionsfor relativelyvmoving the same vin ahoriz'ontaldirection, a second shiftjing means arranged between the sections for tween the operating-means and said expansion means adapted to operate but one ot said expansion means at a time.

17. In a trench wall supporting machine, ythe combination of a pair of sections interitting and adapted for relative vertical and horizontal movement, expanding means fory each section to individually bind the sections in the trench, a vertically shifting means connecting the sections for raising and lowering the machine inthey trench, and a horizontal shifting means connecting the sections operable independently of the verticallyl shifting means for-advancing the sections horizontally in the trench.

18. In a trench wall supporting machine, the combination of apair of sections each having a head on each end and'arranged with the head of one section between the heads of the other section and the sections being adapted to slide one within the other,

a crank shaft mounted on one section, a connecting rod between the cranks of said shaft and the other section, means for turning the horizontal crank shaft to relatively shift saidsections one Within the other, expanding rails arrangedy at opposite sides of the sections,V

`means on each4 section to expand'the rails thereof, and an operatlng device for selectively operating the expanding meansYV ofV yeach section. Y Y

19. In a trench Wall supporting machine, the combination of a pair of `sectionseach having a head on each Vend and arranged with the head of one section between the e.

heads ofthe other section and adapted for relative sliding movement inver-tical and directions, vertically sliding bearing blocks on one section, horizontal projections on the other section adaptedi'to move in said blocks, means'on the first 'sec-y tionv connected to said blocks `for moving the same vertically to shift the other section vertically relative to the first section, shifting vmeans carried by the `first section and connected to the second section for moving thev second section on the sliding block, y'and independent expansion means, forV the sec-Y tions for independently anchoring the same in a trench. V20. VInv a trench` wall supporting machine,

the combination of a pair of interitting 'rel-.

atively's'lidable sections,1 sets of interfitting rails arranged at opposite sides ofthe sections, independent expansionV means carried -by the sections and connected to the sets :of

rails forexpanding first one set of rails to anchor its section in the trench and subsetions, side rails carried bythe sections, Vex- Y Y pansion means arranged upon. the end. of

each section and connected to the opposite ends of the rails, a shaft on each-section Vconnecting together the expansion meansat the opposite ends thereoffa common oper-3 l Y ating mechanismV 'on one section, :andl selective mechanism for connecting lthe operating `:mechanism to' either one of Vsaid shafts for independently expanding therails ofthe sections. f

22. The ycombinationgof a pairofV inter-` t'ting frames, an operating. shaft-arranged on each frame, connections between the op- Vvertically .ineach' end of each frame, a shaft 1r v posite ends of the shafts and said first :shafts p of each frame, Vrails carried 'by :each 4vfr'arne, i z

horizontally expanding Vmeans between:each` of said first shafts-and the yopposite lends -of vthe rails for moving'the lattertovvardr'and ing means carried by one 4section* and adapted for connection Withboth of s'aid'sha'fts from the Walls of a trench, selective-operat-V for independently operating 'the same and selectivelyexpanding the rails ofthe ksections, and `means for advancing 'La'frlee' section when ,the other'secti'on is anchored.

` SYDNEY BURTGARDNERL 

